Via della Purificazione, on the corner with Piazza Barberini. This little street, which runs parallel to the world-famous Via Veneto, is paved with sampietrini, the cobblestones typical of ancient Rome, and climbs up towards Villa Borghese. It is flanked by noble residences and small shops.

Piazza Barberini is famous the world over for the Triton Fountain, designed and sculpted by Bernini in 1643. This was the first occasion on which the master sculptor had used Travertine, a marble of ancient Roman tradition that guests can also admire in the skilfully crafted décor of the rooms in the Hotel.

Special locations in the nearby

Spanish Steps (3 minutes on foot)Trinità dei Monti, otherwise known as Piazza di Spagna, is undoubtedly, the most famous square in Rome with its never ending coming and going of Romans and tourists alike, now as in the past. The Pincio public gardens can easily be reached on foot from Piazza di Spagna and you can enjoy an absolutely stunning view of the city from here.

Trevi Fountain (3 minutes on foot)Famous the world over thanks to Federico Fellini’s film “La dolce vita”, it was built in 1735 in the time of the papacy of Clement XII. The square surrounding the fountain is packed daily with visitors who, as legend has it, must throw a coin into the fountain if they want to come back to the Eternal City.

Pantheon (6 minutes on foot)The Pantheon was built by Hadrian in 80 a.D. and was put up on the ruins of another temple built by Agrippa. Once inside, the visitor cannot help but be pleasantly impressed by the huge dome, symbol of the celestial heavens, which has an opening to let in a strip of light which is the only source of natural light in the temple. This symbolises the eternal light which illuminates man and the passing of time. This symbolism is aided by the way that the Pantheon is illuminated differently at various times of the day.

Colosseum (6 minutes by taxi)The Romans came here to watch the circus games (ludi circenses) that were for the most part extremely cruel involving gladiators, wild beasts and prisoners (very often Christian) fighting for their lives. The structure was also often flooded in order to stage mock naval battles. These shows came to an end in the fifth century when Telemaco entered the arena and tried to make the gladiators stop fighting. He was killed but from that day on, no more games were held in Rome.

Vatican (12 minutes by taxi)St Peter’s was a “building site” for a period of 176 yeas from when Nicholas V decided to build this impressive basilica situated in the Vatican City. The present church stands on the ruins of the ancient Early Christian church dedicated to Peter and which contained the tomb of the apostle.